THE SCHENGEN BLACKLIST: Europe’s New Plan to Ban Every Former Russian Soldier

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]A growing divide is opening inside Europe over one controversial question.

[00:00:04]Should Russian tourists still be allowed into the EU during the war in Ukraine?

[00:00:09]And the disagreement is becoming intense. Countries closest to Russia, like Estonia and Lithuania, say Europe is underestimating the security threat.

[00:00:18]They argue that Russian-linked sabotage cases across Europe are rising fast, and that Moscow is increasingly using migration, tourism, and soft access as tools of influence. Their fear?

[00:00:31]That people connected to the war, including former soldiers, could move freely through Europe once they enter the Schengen zone.

[00:00:39]And that concern is fueling accusations of hypocrisy inside the EU.

[00:00:44]Because while Eastern European states have heavily restricted Russian entries, countries like France, Italy, and Spain are still approving large numbers of tourist visas.

[00:00:53]In fact, France reportedly increased approvals compared to the previous year.

[00:00:58]Western European governments argue they're simply following EU law.

[00:01:02]Single-entry tourist visas are still legal after security screening, and officials insist every application is reviewed individually.

[00:01:10]But critics say that misses the bigger picture.

[00:01:13]Traveling to Europe has become far more expensive for Russians due to sanctions and restricted flights.

[00:01:19]So opponents argue that many of the people still vacationing in Europe are likely tied, directly or indirectly, to Russia's economic and political elite.

[00:01:28]Now the debate is escalating into policy proposals.

[00:01:32]One idea is a Europe-wide blacklist targeting anyone proven to have fought in Ukraine, automatically banning them from entering the EU.

[00:01:40]Another proposal, described by some officials as the nuclear option, would allow frontline states like Lithuania to screen Russian visa applicants from other EU countries, potentially slowing the entire system to a crawl.

[00:01:53]And underneath all of this is a bigger question Europe still hasn't answered.

[00:01:57]Can the EU remain open while also treating Russia as a long-term security threat?

[00:02:03]Or are those two ideas becoming impossible to balance?